Beaches: Cascais line to Costa da Caparica
The easiest beaches to reach without a car — train, ferry and the best stretches of sand.
Lisbon is one of the few European capitals with beaches reachable by public transport in under an hour.
Cascais Line (CP train)
The Cascais Line train leaves Cais do Sodré and follows the coast all the way to Cascais, with stations next to several beaches:
- Carcavelos — the widest and busiest beach on the line, good for surf and bodyboard. Carcavelos station, about 10 minutes on foot.
- Parede and São Pedro do Estoril — smaller, sheltered beaches.
- Tamariz (Estoril) — next to the Estoril Casino, with an ocean pool.
- Cascais (Praia da Rainha, Conceição, Duquesa) — urban beaches in the bay, minutes from the station.
Costa da Caparica (Almada)
From the Cais do Sodré river terminal, the Transtejo ferry crosses to Cacilhas. From Cacilhas, TST buses connect to Costa da Caparica — a continuous stretch of sand with dozens of concessions and a tourist train (Transpraia, in the bathing season) running along the coast to Fonte da Telha. The Carris/Metro/Transtejo 24h day ticket (€10.35) covers the ferry.
Guincho
North of Cascais, exposed to the wind — a benchmark for surfing and windsurfing. Access by bus (Scotturb 405/415) from Cascais.
Practical tip
On the Cascais Line, zapping works on the CP train. On summer weekends the trains fill up early — going in the morning guarantees a seat and space on the sand.